Apeejay School, Saket wins RIDS Award for Outstanding International Initiatives

It was a milestone achievement for Apeejay School, Saket, as it added another feather to its cap by receiving the esteemed Recognition of International Dimension in Schools (RIDS) Award. This prestigious honour, a part of the India RIDS programme, evolved from the British Council’s renowned International School Award (ISA) initiative. The award reflects the school’s continuous efforts to integrate international awareness and global perspectives into its curriculum.

The RIDS recognition underscores the school’s dedication to embedding global perspectives across subjects and activities. The school’s commitment to high standards was praised by the RIDS assessors, who highlighted its meticulous execution and adherence to quality education.

The citation from RIDS read, “Your commitment to maintaining high standards and ensuring compliance with the requirements has been truly commendable.”

The assessors also applauded the well-planned activities, the involvement of guest speakers, and the collaborative spirit displayed in various projects. They remarked, “The activities showcase immense efforts from both teachers and students. It was a delight to review your school’s portfolio, which reflected excellent work and abundant learning opportunities.”

The school’s RIDS portfolio featured seven innovative projects, three of which were collaborative initiatives with schools in Germany and Abu Dhabi. These projects covered a wide range of subjects and global issues, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience for students.

·         Fiesta Frenzy – Collaboration with Abu Dhabi, UAE; featured a talk by Dr Reema Ramachandran, President of the Forum of Women in Public Sector.

·         River Odyssey – Focused on UK geography and environmental awareness.

·         Dance Diversity – A cultural exchange project in collaboration with a German school.

·         Pathway to Wellness – Emphasized diet and dental health; featured guest speakers from Max Hospital, Saket.

·         Reduce Plastic Waste and Challenge Climate Change – A sustainability initiative with insights from Canadian educators.

·         Preserving Ecosystems – Aimed at addressing biodiversity concerns; included a session with environmental scientist Mr Santomba Kshetrimayum.

·         Affordable and Green Energy – Explored sustainable solutions through a video conference with environmental expert Mr Avinash Kumar.

Acknowledging Dedication and Effort

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication of the school’s leadership, teachers, and students. Special recognition goes to Principal Dr Sujeet Eric Masih, the core committee members, and RIDS Coordinator Ms Sarita Chawla for their relentless efforts in driving excellence. Their hard work ensured that each project met the highest standards and contributed meaningfully to the school’s global engagement.

According to Ms Chawla, the British Council’s Recognition of an International Dimension in Schools (RIDS) award helps schools develop international awareness and activities. This can benefit schools in many ways, including: The award is a recognised honour in the school groups as it has very stringent norms to qualify for it.

Student development and community involvement: Schools can involve the wider community in their international activities, and are sensitised towards global issues, some of which are an application to topics studied in their curriculum. Students can develop global citizenship, communication skills, and cultural understanding.

International exposure: Students gain international exposure through collaboration – video conferences, which can be invaluable for higher education and future careers.

School profile: Schools can increase their profile in the local community, making them more attractive to prospective parents and teachers. Schools receive a RIDS Logo for their letterhead and different forms of communication, a certificate of achievement to display in the school.

Teachers/professional development: Teachers can continuously develop professionally as they attend workshops conducted by BCL.

Media pack: Schools receive a media pack to help raise awareness through social media and the local press.

“With this prestigious accreditation, Apeejay School, Saket, reaffirms its commitment to providing exceptional global learning experiences. We aim to continue fostering a sense of global responsibility among our students, promoting cross-cultural understanding, tolerance, and collaboration. Our goal is to empower our students to contribute meaningfully to addressing global challenges.

“We extend our gratitude to our esteemed RIDS partner schools – Principal, Ms Abhilasha Singh and her team at Shining Star International School, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and SG Classes Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany – for their invaluable collaboration on our RIDS projects,” Ms Chawla shared.